Dublin will hold referendum for directly elected mayor within two years if Fianna Fáil proposal gets Dail green light

Under the proposal, every citizen in Dublin city and county will vote in May 2018.

Fianna Fail's Dublin spokesman John Lahart got the party thumbs up for the private members bill (Photo: Fianna Fail)

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Dublin will hold a referendum for a directly elected mayor within two years if a Fianna Fáil proposal gets the green light from the Dáil.

The party’s Dublin spokesman John Lahart got the party thumbs up for a private members bill which will give all citizens in the capital the choice to decide on whether Dublin will get a mayor with executive powers to run the city.

Under the proposal, every citizen in Dublin city and county will vote in May 2018.

If it passes, the capital will have its first mayoral elections in May 2019, TheJournal.ie reports.

The Local Government Bill 2016 is due to be tabled in the Dáil later this month. Lahart wants to establish a consensus with other parties on the best model for the proposal, which could be enacted after Christmas.

Campaigners say Dublin needs a directly-elected mayor similar to London’s – but with a directly-elected assembly keeping for checks and balances.

The model proposed by Fianna Fáil would give the mayor executive powers, as well as a management role in areas like housing, tourism, arts and transport.

Two years ago, Fingal councillors blocked proposals for a directly elected mayor.

Lahart’s bill doesn't stipulate what executive powers the mayor would have, but provides for the Housing Minister to do so.

The Bill states: "The Minister shall, no less than six months prior to the plebiscite date and following a period of public consultation of no less than 12 weeks, cause a copy of the proposals setting out the powers and responsibilities of the proposed directly elected mayor, to be laid before the both Houses of the Oireachtas and such proposals must be approved by resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas."

The Green Party have been working on a similar Bill since 2010, and say theirs has the best chance of succeeding.

Cllr Roderic O’Gorman, Green Party chairman and a councillor in Fingal County Council, said: "Dublin is in the middle of a housing crisis, and is facing transport deadlock in the coming years.

“Our cities need real political leadership, and that means the office of Mayor cannot remain a ceremonial role.”